MANILA, Philippines — The Liberal Party on Thursday “vehemently denied” that it was going after “non-LP governors.”

In a text message to reporters, Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone, a member of the ruling party who said he had been tasked to speak on the issue, said the LP had nothing to do with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia’s suspension Wednesday for grave abuse of authority and the ongoing investigation on Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino Jr. who has been linked to the numbers racket.

“The LP has nothing to do with it. The investigation of Gov. Espino was based on the complaint filed by a mayor against him on jueteng. In the case of Governor Gwen, there was also a complaint against her which was only acted upon by the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) and the Office of the Executive Secretary,” he said.

Evardone maintained that there was nothing political about the two cases and defended the Executive branch’s actions as being “based on valid complaints.”

The suspension order for Garcia, a member of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), was signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. last Monday and the DILG has sworn in Vice Governor Agnes Magpale to take over her duties.

Garcia however refused to acknowledge the suspension order which she saw as a “power grab” just months before her term ends. She is eyeing her brother Cebu Representative Pablo John Garcia to be her successor next year.

Bugallon, Pangasinan Mayor Rodrigo Orduna meanwhile lodged a plunder case against Espino at the Office of the Ombudsman, liking him to ‘jueteng’ operations allegedly going back to as far as 2007. Espino is a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) seeking reelection and will be running against the LP’s gubernatorial bet Alaminos Mayor Nani Braganza

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http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WIWYLFLU4LPKS7B2ZLLRVFKS3Y vir_a

It is very obvious. When can they just admit all these political persecutions – starting with GMA, Corona, Espino and now Garcia. Who will be the next to be politically executed to serve as reason and excuse to remain in power?

mon key

political persecutions??? really? where have you been these past years? hiding behind the payroll of corrupt people in government?

indiosbravos2002

Is this a paid PR?

ed_nique

it is also very obvious that you are not from cebu.

whether this is politically motivated or not, most cebuanos feel that it is long overdue. read about the balili case and how she is covering up the anomalous purchase of underwater land!

Nakakahiya kaung taga LIarBIRAL party….Who will believe you with your pronouncements…The more you explain, the more you self-destruct….You guys are digging Roxas grave for the 2016 presidential elections.
Go after Lilia Pineda too and you will have the last nail on the coffin!

mon key

they should also go after Lilia Pineda too. just watch. when that happens, many Filipinos will say that indeed this administration is serious about doing things right!

LucianoChing

The administration should have probe Lilia Pineda way back to clain that this administration is doing things right..Going after her now is crazy…Clear case of doing things wrong,not right…

http://ourleftfoot.blogspot.com/ Tristanism

Can we go after her after the elections then? Halimbawang me lumabas na witness against the pinedas next week, what would be the next step? Ganyan nangyari sa Pangasinan e. Should the government have ignored the mayor of bugalyon until after the elections?

LucianoChing

During these sensitive times(pre-election period),all exposes are colored with politics unless the pieces of evidence is really overwhelming…The coming out of Mayor Ordona at the time he was presented to the media were purely testimonial evidence,e.i.,his words versus the words of the other side…The aspect of politics should not have been invoked by Gov. Espino if the allegations were supported by documents like assets owned by the Gov. not in proportion to his earnings.It is very easy for someone to come out with pronouncements ,but difficult to have on hand documents to support such pronouncements…
If there is somebody coming out againts the Pinedas at this point in time,in relation to jueteng,it is important that testimonial and documentary evidence be at hand to eliminate political motive.

http://ourleftfoot.blogspot.com/ Tristanism

Nah, let’s just wait till after the elections.

http://ourleftfoot.blogspot.com/ Tristanism

I’m sure politically motivated din yang paghabol ke Pineda. :)

filipinaskoh

definitely! Anti PNOY will take it as politically motivated, even though the PINEDAs are in the jueteng business for more than a decade.

Jueteng is done THREE times a day in Pampangga!

dikoy321

If these were indeed POLITICAL in nature, HOW COME Gwen Garcia only was SUSPENDED, after a 2-year investigation & DUE PROCESS ?

WHY is Espino not SUSPENDED yet ???

If P-Noy is after a SHORTCUT, Espino could be SUSPENDED already, correct ??? But Espino is being investigated only, due process !

If P-Noy is after a SHORTCUT, WHY is GMA in a hospital ??? GMA could have been THROWN straight inside a JAIL, with iron Bars, languishing there as we speak, right ???

WHERE is the WRONG done by DUE PROCESS ???

GO GO GO P-Noy and WORK to JAIL CROOKS, THIEVES, the CORRUPT !

Forward Philippines !!!

LucianoChing

Gwen Garcias’ case did not take two years to investigate..It was a pre-determined judgement made long before but the suspension due to her offense was timed for the election season…If she deserves the suspension,it should have been imposed after the probe which is far away yet to the campaign period…
On Espinos’ case, the falling out between the gov. and the mayor started almost two years ago and why only now,on the almost eve of the 2013 election, was the jueteng expose came out…the administration does’t want espino suspended..they want espino to go to jailllSuspending him won’t make braganza win over him.Jailing espino might make braganzas’ loss not overwhelming…
At this point in time(election season) claiming due procees in politics is not credible.At this point in time due process becomes DONE proceess

http://ourleftfoot.blogspot.com/ Tristanism

And that is why there should be a moratorium against suspension or arrest of political personalities during election periods. Mahirap na.

These things should be done after the election. Pero we should do these things fast kasi every three years me election e. We only have a 2-year window at the most.

Tangalin si Garcia by hook or by crook. The law of the land must prevail. “Daang matuwid” is the new game in town. If Penoy can not remove Garcia then his nothing but Panot’sa. go…..go……Penoy ….. byeeeeeeee >>>>>>>>>

Only in the Philippine politics has a Weather2, after 2016 new administration will run in Pinas gov’t, sure so many cases to be filed in court again to their political foes PAPOGI STYLE same2 like Cory, GMA, and NOY2..never mind the services to the masses like very cost of electricity, water, medicine, school tuition fees, food stuffed, high rate of un-employment, crime, contractualization of Labor etc.